title: Effect of routine pulse oximetry measurements on ED triage classification.
abstract: Pulse oximetry is commonly used to rapidly determine oxygen saturation and is incorporated in emergency triage as a screening for potential cardiopulmonary complications. This study examined the effect of routine pulse oximetry measurements on emergency department (ED) triage classification. Using a portable pulse oximeter, oxygen saturation of 1,235 adults presenting to a university-based, urban ED was obtained and each patient was assigned a classification of severity based on a standard 1-to-4 scale before and after the measurement. According to data obtained, a small but statistically significant group (2.8%) benefitted from the routine use of pulse oximetry in an emergency triage system and only 40% of these patients required admission or extended care. Although this group is small in number, the potential consequences of missing a hypoxic condition could be devastating for the individual patient. Since pulse oximetry is presently an inexpensive technology, it would seem to be a worthwhile screening tool for emergency triage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Galli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen